Leeds United face difficult Junior Firpo call on late January exit, BBC Sport pundit admits he’d have driven him personally
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United …
Despite being heavily critical of Junior Firpo in the past Paul Robinson believes Leeds United would struggle to let him go as he emerges as a possible transfer target in Spain.
The Elland Road left-back was linked to a Real Sociedad move before the end of the window after they were hit by an ACL tear to Aihen Muñoz [Mundo Deportivo, 21 January].
However, with Firpo currently in the midst of arguably his best run in the Whites XI since he arrived at the club from Barcelona three summers ago Robinson doesn’t think Daniel Farke can likely afford to lose the 27-year-old.
The BBC Sport pundit admits he would have “driven him to Spain myself” if a move was on at times during Premier League struggles, but given there have already been full-back exits this month it would leave the squad short of options.
Firpo made a run of five starts in all competitions during January, all wins, in which he laid on four assists, prior to the FA Cup draw with Plymouth Argyle at the weekend.
“The problem with Firpo is the inconsistency. You can see the frustration,” Robinson told MOT Leeds News.
“Because the talent is there going forward in the final third, the attacking quality, and he is capable of playing well as he has does recently.
“It’s some of the best form that he’s had, but it’s not over a consistent period and left-back has been a problem for Leeds this season.
“It would be difficult to let him go. Listen there’s times when I’d have driven him to Spain myself the way that he played in the Premier League.
“But the way that he’s playing this season I think he’s in good form and that has been a problem position, so for Leeds to let him go they would have to look at a replacement for him.
“With Djed Spence going back as well that’s a situation that never worked, so you look at the potential cover and the possibilities that they’ve got in the left-back area, without Firpo in the squad they would be light.”
In other Leeds United news, a value increase has occurred in the past 24 hours for a player the manager wants before the deadline.
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